The style of the scrollwork and dragon handle on this vessel indicate that it was made by a Nepalese craftsman, either in Nepal for export to Tibet or in Tibet itself. Teapots with dragon handles and spouts issuing from the jaws of water monsters or makara were found throughout the Tibetan world.

Physical description

Teapot made of hammered copper, mounted with silver repoussé, with cast and chased bronze handle and side plaques. The vessel has a bowl-shaped body flattened inward at the shoulder with a short tubular neck. The neck has a silver repoussé collar and the foot is decorated with leaf, flower and petal motifs. The detachable cover is made of repoussé silver, with two rings of lotus-petals, with lotus bud knob. The curved handle is in the form of a rearing dragon, and the curved spout in the form of a Makara. On either side is a four-lobed applied bronze openwork plaque with a writhing daragon amid foliage in low relief.

Place of Origin

Tibet (made)

Date

19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Hammered copper, mounted with repoussé silver. Spout, handle and side plaques of cast and chased bronze